FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - US Issued Contactless Card Does Not Work on London Underground
Old Oct 9, 2017 | 4:51 am
  #85  
:D!
1M
50 Countries Visited
100 Nights
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 7,130
Originally Posted by smala01
TFL needs the "opening a tab" type transaction to be available on the card to be compatible with the contactless system - since it pre-authorizes the daily cap amount, but then only takes your actual usage at the end of the day. This "opening a tab" type transaction is typically not allowed on pre-paid MasterCards which i'm assuming this card is classed as. If you cannot use it on the gas pump in the US you wont be able to use it on TFL.
I can't speak for the US but this statement is not necessarily true.

I have a prepaid UK mastercard which doesn't work at the pump at UK petrol stations, but it works on TfL.

I also have a prepaid Australian mastercard which doesn't work at the pump in Australian petrol stations, but it works on TfL. (I used it to travel between LHR terminals as an experiment - I wouldn't otherwise use an AUD card to spend in GBP).
:D! is offline